The Adventures of Lobo Garcia

As Translated

 By

Antonio Cascada

THE GREAT KITSILANO BANK ROBBERY

SCENE ONE

The City of Kitsilano in 1970 was a bustling beehive of schemers, dreamers and the community spirit.

This community spirit was one of an addictive nature. It grew in the cooperative vegetable plots that were scattered around Kitsilano. It was springing up to the throbbing rhythm of a distant drum. 

But, true to the community spirit there were those that thought.

“What goes in must come out.”

It is for this brave and courageous group that this story is written.

These people are like stewardesses to the airlines.

They are like cows to the dairies and statues to the pidgins.

SCENE TWO

Mexico 1870.

The small Village of Santa Rosita is the most famous place in all of Mexico.

A strange story emerges of a bank robbery at El Banko De Commercio, in Santa Rosita.

Through a quirk of fate a large amount of gold, paper money and documents were being stored at the Bank.

Everything was stolen.

It was rumored that Lobo Garcia, the notorious bank robber was responsible for the robbery.

All levels of the Government, the Army and the Police investigated

No witness could be found.

SCENE THREE

The most stable plantation in Kitsilano in 1970 was the Bank of Commerce.

The Bank was aptly named for when you were holding their money they charged you and when they were holding your money they charged you.

Now that was commerce.

SCENE FOUR

Cameras Action!

We are at the site of an old bank.

The sound of a sports car stirs the street to life.

The attention and the cameras are aimed to the east and down the hill as a white sports car drives up the Fourth Avenue towards the bank.

The street is deserted yet it is high noon as the sun rises high over the bank.

The man in the sports car listens to the beat of the motor knowing that the sports car is purring louder than it should but he finds the sound upon the silence almost religious in its contrast.

He feels good with life as he enjoys the beauty of the summer of 1970 in Kitsilano.

SCENE FIVE

The man in the sports car looks north to the water and the mountains as he passes the corner of Fourth and Arbutus.

His heartbeat is mixing with the sounds of the car’s engine.

Suddenly he thinks he is having a violent heart attack only to realize that he is running out of gas just like the cat that has lost its ninth life.

Putting in the clutch he glides to a stop along the curb.

His eye is caught by the building on his right.

Looking up he notices the Bank of Commerce a stately monument to cement.

People were never quite sure weather the hill was holding the bank up or the bank was holding the hill down.

 SCENE SIX

The street around the man in the sports car is alive in its silence.

A bird goes by flying.

A dog goes by walking.

Slowly the man realizes what is happening.

He is getting a cosmic message.

The pillars of the bank look like Rome and he is Julius Caesar.

However it appears he is on the far side of the Rubicon and must now go in search of gasoline.

SCENE EIGHT

The sun is hot but a gentle breeze blows through his shoulder length hair.

The man from the sports car walks west to MacDonald Street.

There are now a few people on the street.

A friend enters into his lagoon of vision, smiles are all around.

Peace signs are exchanged.

Kitsilano life is cosmic in the summer of 1970.

SCENE NINE

The scene has changed it becomes a Village called Santa Rosita

in the southwest of Mexico, 1870

The Famous Mexican Bank Robber, Lobo Garcia and his lifelong friend Pepito are standing by the fountain in the Santa Rosita central square. Their horses are drinking from the water trough at the bottom of the fountain.

Lobo and Pepito are looking across the square to the Village monument El Banco De Commercio. They are talking about robbing El Banco De Commercio.

The bank is the largest building for 600 miles it symbolizes the strength of the hold the Government and the Banks have on the people.

SCENE TEN

Lobo asks Pepito,

“Pepito, how many animals do you think it would take to completely fill this square?”

Pepito answers lazily “Maybe two hundred.”

Lobo asks, “What do you think if we block all the entrances and fill the square with animals?”

“Si, but we would want all different kinds so they all do different things.”

“Si”, Lobo answers “That is good.”

They both laugh and promise to meet again soon.

SCENE ELEVEN

The man from the sports car wonders at an easy pace along Fourth Avenue. He is thinking how neat it is when time runs slow.

He is heading for the Chevron gas station at Forth Avenue and MacDonald Street.

The Chevron gas station is run and owned by the Tremblay Family who call the business Tremblay Motors.

Tremblay Motors is pure Kitsilano it is stoned while being straight.

Today is a perfect example. For some reason only known to the Tremblay’s they are having Hawaiian Days.

The station is decorated like an oasis of palm trees.

 SCENE TWELVE

The man from the sports car is greeted by the jovial all male team who are wearing Hawaiian grass skirts.

A flower laie is placed around his neck while in the background a recording of Don Ho is playing the Hawaiian Wedding Song.

The Tremblay’s promise to solve all his automotive problems.

They don’t seem to notice he doesn’t have a car.

They offer to check his oil, wash his windshield and fill his tires.

It is not long before he is again walking Fourth Avenue. He is carrying a portable can of gas.

SCENE THIRTEEN

Under the shade of a street corner in Santa Rosita. Lobo Garcia is talking to a group of musicians, “El Troubadours Tremblay”.

The Troubadours have gathered in Santa Rosita for the Fiesta of the Blessed Animals a time when the children bring their animals to town.

As the guitars are strumming one of the musicians is making up a song about a Mexican Bandit who robs El Banco De Commercio.

The trumpet, trombone and tuba join in with sounds that send shivers up the spine with excitement and anticipation.

Lobo says to the head musician Arturo, “With your family as part of my plan it will be a very fine day.”

SCENE FOURTEEN

The man with the gas can has returned to his sports car.

As he fills his gas tank he looks up at the Bank of Commerce.

He is sure that he hears Mexican Mariachi music coming from the inside bank.

He shakes himself and thinks that those Hawaiian gas jockeys have done a number on his head. He had better smoke a joint and straighten out.

The sports car is now coughing to life soon it is roaring into action and heading west down Fourth Avenue.

SCENE FIFTEEN

The music sounds good as it flows from the sports car radio. That joint was good.

The driver is again lost in the sunshine and changing shapes of the buildings.

A blur in his vision now comes into perspective as colors dance in the heat waves as the outline of a girl in tight white pants forces him to the side of the road.

Her silhouette stirs reactions deep inside him. He thinks how wonderful it is to live in Kitsilano.

As the girl climbs into the seat beside him he is lost in the beauty of her smile and the promise of a dream come true.

SCENE SIXTEEN

On a trail near Santa Rosita. Lobo Garcia and Juanita, his sweetheart since childhood are bringing their horses to a halt.

Following a faint path, they walk into the woods. The land is lush with palm trees and ferns.

They reach an open patch covered with grass that overlooks a small lake.

Lobo spreads the blankets and he and the beautiful Juanita are making love. The sounds of the birds mix with the passion of their lovemaking.

They roll off the blankets. The grass is cool and soft on their naked bodies.

Later Lobo talks to Juanita about robbing El Banco De Commercio.

SCENE SEVENTEEN

The closing of the sports car door brings the man back to life, the girl in the tight white pants smiles and waves good-bye.

As she walks away the man in the sports car is mesmerized by what those tight white pants do for her body or is it the other way around.

He leaves listening to the engine accelerate as it goes through the gear changes.

The buildings go by in a blur.

He doesn't notice the speed until the siren pulls him to the side of the road.

A police officer walks up to the sports car.

SCENE EIGHTEEN

The Pacific Ocean waves are lapping on the seashore near Santa Rosita.

The Chief of the Army, the military force for the area, Benito Juarez Sanchez and Lobo Garcia are laughing, there is much backslapping going on.

They are talking about robbing El Banco De Commercio.

Off to the side are about thirty more Rurales. These men are the bulk of the Army that maintain law and order in the district that surrounds the small Mexican village, of Santa Rosita.

SCENE NINETEEN

Benito Sanchez and Lobo Garcia wonder over to the group of Rurales. There is food and wine. They all sit around and laugh about robbing El Banco De Commercio.

The moon is high when Lobo rises to leave.

Benito Sanchez walks Lobo to his horse.

“We will meet again soon Lobo, I will give you my answer then” says the Chief of the Army.

“Bueno”, says lobo as he mounts up and rides away.

SCENE TWENTY

Through the haze of flashing lights the man in the sports car looks around. The scene is now very cluttered as police cars are everywhere.

A crowd has gathered. They are distracting the police.

The man starts the engine and drives off.

He thinks what a crazy place Kitsilano is but that’s why he likes living in Kits.

When a rock festival comes to town the streets are deserted and everyone knows the local narc Abe Stedenko.

SCENE TWENTY-ONE

Lobo Garcia is sitting at a table in the local tavern, El Saloon De Fortuna Passado.

He looks up and smiles at a poster of himself.

Lobo Garcia is the most Famous Bank Robber in all of Mexico.

The President of Mexico, Jose De La Cruz Porfiro Diaz has put a 100,000 peso price on his head, but nobody has come forward to collect.

Lobo is a cult hero to the people. He is a Mexican Robin Hood. Many people say that he was the true beginning of the great Mexican Revolution off 1911. The Revolution that was led by the famous Mexican Generals, Pancho Villa and Eduardo Zapata.

SCENE TWENTY-TWO

The Chief of the Army, Benito Sanchez walks into El Saloon de Fortuna Passado. He heads right to where Lobo is sitting.

Benito Sanchez pulls up a chair and sits down across the table from Lobo. They drink tequila in silence.

Lobo looks Benito Sanchez in the eye and asks,

“Well what do you think of my plan?"

The Chief of the Army downs the last of his tequila and stands up.

After stroking his mustaches he grins and looks at Lobo Garcia.

"This my friend is a very good plan, you can count on the Army for support."

SCENE TWENTY-THREE

Benito Sanchez strides out of El Saloon de Fortuna Passado.

Young Miguel the boy who sweeps the floors looks at the Chief of the Army and thinks

"That is the type of man one can look up to. I hope that one day I shall be such a pillar of respect to the community”

Benito Juarez Sanchez is a very proud man. He was named for the pure-blooded Zapotec Indian, Benito Juarez who was the father of the great Mexican Constitution of 1857. Benito Juarez is the man who ousted then President Santa Anna the corrupt President of Alamo fame.

Benito Schanchez takes his position as Chief of the Army very seriously but the practices of President Diaz have angered him to the point that in his hart he serves a master higher than the President, he serves Mexico herself. He dispenses justice based on the principals of Benito Juarez.

SCENE TWENTY-FIVE

Lobo Garcia has just walked into El Banko de Commercio.

The Bank Manager, Roberto Santiago, comes up to him.

Lobo turns and shakes hands and follows the manager into his office.

Roberto Santiago smiles, "Well Lobo, I agree, it is a very good plan. You can count on me and all of my staff to do everything necessary”

Lobo could not be more pleased everything is falling into place.

SCENE TWENTY-SIX

The man from the sports car walks out of the bank.

He is not pleased. He was just turned down for the loan.

“Funny”, he thinks “I thought the loan was such a great idea.”

It seems the Bank has some strange idea that in order to get a loan you need a job and a credit rating.

The man from the white sports car has never had much use for either.

SCENE TWENTY-SEVEN

Lobo Garcia is pleased.

He thinks to himself,

“This will be a robbery to remember”.

The Chief of the Army has promised,

“On the morning of the Bank Robbery all the members of the Army will be 20 miles north of Santa Rosita.

Lobo will escape to the south.

The Manager of El Banko De Commercio, Roberto Santiago has promised,

“On the day of the Bank Robbery, El Banco De Commercio will be holding more gold and silver that it ever has before”.

It has been arranged that the entire year’s taxes for half of Mexico will be held at EL Banco De Commercio.

 SCENE TWENTY-EIGHT

The man from the sports car is in bed with the woman in the tight white pants. They have been making love all afternoon.

She tells him that her girlfriends work at the Credit Bureau and the Bank of Commerce head office.

As he gets up to leave, he stretches and thinks

"Things are coming together just fine."

SCENE TWENTY-NINE

Lobo Garcia rides along thinking.

He has spent the afternoon making love with Juanita.

Juanita has told him that her sisters want to ride with him on the day of the robbery.

Lobo thinks that with Juanita and her sisters at his side on the day of the Bank robbery his plan is getting better all the time.

SCENE THIRTY

Lobo Garcia, Pepito and ten of his best men along with Juanita and her sisters have just walked into the El Banco de Commercio.

The robbery has started.

SCENE THIRTY-ONE

Lobo flashes a big smile that sparkles off his silver pistols.

"Amigos, all the money, por favor.

We have come for everything!"

Each of Lobo’s men is holding the latest model Winchester 74 leaver action repeating rifle and wearing double crossing bandoleers of bullets. They each also carry a pair of the latest model Colt pistols slung at their hips in leather holsters filled with bullets.

Juanita and her sisters are there also in one hand they each hold a Colt pistol and in the other they carry strong leather saddle bags.

Lobo is ready for a small war.

SCENE THIRTY-TWO

Juanita and her sisters hand over the saddlebags and the bank employees set to work loading all the gold, silver, coins and paper money into the saddlebags.

The Bank Manager Roberto Santiago comes out of his office and says to Lobo.

"You cannot do this!"

"Senor", says Lobo, in a very lazy voice "It is done."

SCENE THIRTY-THREE

As Lobo strides out of the front doors of El Banco De Commercio he is thinking

"This is a very good day."

The tinkling of his spurs blends with the musical instruments that are being tuned nearby.

He stops on the front porch and fires his guns into the air.

Lobo flashes a big smile and laughs to the sky.

SCENE THIRTY-FOUR

Lobo turns to the group of musicians “El Troubadours Tremblay” and orders,

 “Play! This is the Fiesta of the Blessed Animals.”

Every where there are animals that have been brought into town for the Fiesta.

At the sound of the guns and music the animals realize that it is their turn.

They bark and moo and start move around

There are animals all around the bank.

SCENE THIRTY-FIVE

There are cows, sheep, burros, chickens, dogs, goats, farm carts, old people young children all heading for the bank.

A large crowd of people have gathered in front of the bank.

El Troubadours Trembley play the song of The Blessed Animals. A dog howls a signal another part of Lobo’s plan taking place.

SCENE THIRTY-SIX

Miguel the small boy from the saloon leads a goat towards the entrance of El Banko De Commercio.

The goat is followed by a large flock of sheep.

They all walk into El Banco de Commercio.

  SCENE THIRTY-SEVEN

A prearranged path in the crowd opens for Lobo and the bank robbers.

They pass through the confusion as the crowd and animals close in behind them.

Juanita's sisters load the saddlebags on the waiting horses and mount up.

Lobo flashes flashes a big smile and fires his guns in the air and cries out.

"Arriba, Arriba, Vamonos Compadres!"

Lobo and his Gang are riding out of town.

 SCENE THIRTY-EIGHT

Benito Sanchez, the Chief of the Army is entering El Banco De Commercio, the scene of the robbery.

He has just ridden 20 miles from the north upon receiving word of the bank robbery.

His men are stationed all around.

 SCENE THIRTY-NINE

Benito Sanchez walks up to Roberto Santiago, the Bank Manager, and says in a loud official voice,

"We cannot track the bank robbers in this confusion and no one can identify who it was or where they have gone.

Senior, the Banks' money is lost."

The Bank Manager says in a somber voice,

"I will inform my superiors in Mexico City of the official position of the Army."

 SCENE FORTY

The man in the sports car can't believe his good luck.

The Bank of Commerce just called,

“Sir, there has been a mix-up on your loan application.

Your credit rating is Triple A. Your loan has been approved.”

He turns to the beautiful woman in the tight white pants and says,

"They are going to give me $25,000 to write my book.

This is gonna be even better than U.I.C.

The first thing we have to do is go to Mexico and get some flavor."

  SCENE FORTY-ONE

The man with the sports car gets a far away look.

In his minds eye he envisions his book.

He thinks of the ending first.

The heroes ride off into the sunset.

Just then he hears a jingling sound

  SCENE FORTY-TWO

Riding by goes Lobo Garcia with all the bank robbers.

Their saddle bags are full and they are laughing into the sun.

Juanita rides next to Lobo her hair blowing in the wind.

Lobo turns and looks the man from the sports car directly in the eye and calls out,

"Arriba! Arriba! Adios and Gracias, Amigo!"

  SCENE FORTY-THREE

The sunlight dances like a mirage as the man in the white sports car starts the engine and drives away.

He laughs thinking about the cosmic message he got in front of the Bank of Commerce.

His book is finished, it's a box office hit and somehow the bank lost his loan file. He doesn't owe them any money.

The girl in tight white pants sits next to him. She is beautiful with her Mexican tan.

As they drive away a Mexican music tape is playing on the sports car radio.

Cut! Stop Action!

Hasta Nunca

ANTONIO CASCADA

Tony Waterfall

 © copyright Tony Waterfall